Characterization and Analysis of Ultrathin CIGS Films and Solar Cells Deposited by 3-Stage Process

In view of the large-scale utilization of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells for photovoltaic application, it is of interest not only to enhance the conversion efficiency but also to reduce the thickness of the CIGS absorber layer in order to reduce the cost and improve the solar cell manufacturing thr...

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Main Authors: Grace Rajan, Krishna Aryal, Shankar Karki, Puruswottam Aryal, Robert W. Collins, Sylvain Marsillac
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:Journal of Spectroscopy
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/8527491
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author Grace Rajan
Krishna Aryal
Shankar Karki
Puruswottam Aryal
Robert W. Collins
Sylvain Marsillac
author_facet Grace Rajan
Krishna Aryal
Shankar Karki
Puruswottam Aryal
Robert W. Collins
Sylvain Marsillac
author_sort Grace Rajan
collection DOAJ
description In view of the large-scale utilization of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells for photovoltaic application, it is of interest not only to enhance the conversion efficiency but also to reduce the thickness of the CIGS absorber layer in order to reduce the cost and improve the solar cell manufacturing throughput. In situ and real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry (RTSE) has been used conjointly with ex situ characterizations to understand the properties of ultrathin CIGS films. This enables monitoring the growth process, analyzing the optical properties of the CIGS films during deposition, and extracting composition, film thickness, grain size, and surface roughness which can be corroborated with ex situ measurements. The fabricated devices were characterized using current voltage and quantum efficiency measurements and modeled using a 1-dimensional solar cell device simulator. An analysis of the diode parameters indicates that the efficiency of the thinnest cells was restricted not only by limited light absorption, as expected, but also by a low fill factor and open-circuit voltage, explained by an increased series resistance, reverse saturation current, and diode quality factor, associated with an increased trap density.
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id doaj-art-85d9b1d6923841cd936be8e1ef1bbb6c
institution OA Journals
issn 2314-4920
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language English
publishDate 2018-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Journal of Spectroscopy
spelling doaj-art-85d9b1d6923841cd936be8e1ef1bbb6c2025-08-20T02:08:56ZengWileyJournal of Spectroscopy2314-49202314-49392018-01-01201810.1155/2018/85274918527491Characterization and Analysis of Ultrathin CIGS Films and Solar Cells Deposited by 3-Stage ProcessGrace Rajan0Krishna Aryal1Shankar Karki2Puruswottam Aryal3Robert W. Collins4Sylvain Marsillac5Virginia Institute of Photovoltaics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USAVirginia Institute of Photovoltaics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USAVirginia Institute of Photovoltaics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USADepartment of Physics & Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USADepartment of Physics & Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USAVirginia Institute of Photovoltaics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USAIn view of the large-scale utilization of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells for photovoltaic application, it is of interest not only to enhance the conversion efficiency but also to reduce the thickness of the CIGS absorber layer in order to reduce the cost and improve the solar cell manufacturing throughput. In situ and real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry (RTSE) has been used conjointly with ex situ characterizations to understand the properties of ultrathin CIGS films. This enables monitoring the growth process, analyzing the optical properties of the CIGS films during deposition, and extracting composition, film thickness, grain size, and surface roughness which can be corroborated with ex situ measurements. The fabricated devices were characterized using current voltage and quantum efficiency measurements and modeled using a 1-dimensional solar cell device simulator. An analysis of the diode parameters indicates that the efficiency of the thinnest cells was restricted not only by limited light absorption, as expected, but also by a low fill factor and open-circuit voltage, explained by an increased series resistance, reverse saturation current, and diode quality factor, associated with an increased trap density.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/8527491
spellingShingle Grace Rajan
Krishna Aryal
Shankar Karki
Puruswottam Aryal
Robert W. Collins
Sylvain Marsillac
Characterization and Analysis of Ultrathin CIGS Films and Solar Cells Deposited by 3-Stage Process
Journal of Spectroscopy
title Characterization and Analysis of Ultrathin CIGS Films and Solar Cells Deposited by 3-Stage Process
title_full Characterization and Analysis of Ultrathin CIGS Films and Solar Cells Deposited by 3-Stage Process
title_fullStr Characterization and Analysis of Ultrathin CIGS Films and Solar Cells Deposited by 3-Stage Process
title_full_unstemmed Characterization and Analysis of Ultrathin CIGS Films and Solar Cells Deposited by 3-Stage Process
title_short Characterization and Analysis of Ultrathin CIGS Films and Solar Cells Deposited by 3-Stage Process
title_sort characterization and analysis of ultrathin cigs films and solar cells deposited by 3 stage process
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/8527491
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